Euro goal drought angers stokes

ANTHONY Stokes knows that when Celtic look back at this season’s Champions League campaign they will be haunted by missed chances.

PUBLISHED: 22:09, Sat, Dec 7, 2013

Striker Athony Stokes believes that the team hasn't taken their chances when they should have [ROSS TURPIE]

Wednesday’s trip to Barcelona is meaningless in terms of the tournament, with the Hoops playing for pride.

But Stokes believes Celtic could have gone further.

He said: “You learn to be a bit more patient because you don’t have as much possession, but ruthlessness in front of goal is the key. You might only get half a chance in a game but you have to take it.

“This year, that’s probably shown us up a little bit. Look at Milan in the last game.

“When we were 1-0 down Virgil van Dijk had a chance, and that’s the sob story so far this year. We haven’t taken our chances. You don’t get two or three clear-cut opportunities like you do in the SPL.

“This is my first campaign and I’ve enjoyed it and come the end of it I will be a better player for the experience. But as a striker you want to be scoring in every game – especially in the big games in the important competitions.”

Celtic have notched just two goals in five group games and have one last chance to get among the goals at the Nou Camp on Wednesday.

Qualification is gone now and obviously it would be better if we were playing for something, so it’s more about pride than anything

Anthony Stokes

“We want to treat that like any other game and go and get a result, but it’s a difficult place to do that,” said Stokes. “Even so, it is a game we’re looking forward to. Qualification is gone now and obviously it would be better if we were playing for something, so it’s more about pride than anything.”

Celtic would love to end on a high and with a couple of goals to show for their efforts but scoring, as Stokes knows better than most, can become something of an issue. He ended his own personal drought in Friday night’s 5-0 thumping of Motherwell and admitted: “It’s just been one of those spells. You just have to keep getting yourself into positions and eventually the goals will come.

“I’ve always said the target for every striker, especially at Celtic, is to get over 20 a season and that’s not changed.

“If I keep doing the same things and get myself in the box I’m sure more will come. I have also been doing a little bit more finishing in training.”Stokes may not have been in prolific goalscoring form of late but others have been delivering and that was always how it would have to be following the departure of Gary Hooper.

“Everyone needs to chip in,” confirmed the Irishman. “We are in a better position with goals scored than at this time last year and we’ve been improving on the overall aspect of everyone chipping in. ”